It is a good idea to consider a safe approach to alcohol early on in your student life. This means you can enjoy your social life without risking the adverse effects. Here at the student health centre, we often see people suffering from the consequences of the latter two categories, including A+E attendances, liver damage, gastritis, mental health issues, sexual vulnerability, weight gain, addiction, and adversely affecting their degree prospects. These issues can be avoided by making yourself aware of safe limits, and planning in advance to keep within these limits.

What are the recommended safe limits?

Men should drink no more than 21 units of alcohol per week, and no more than four units in any one day.

Women should drink no more than 14 units of alcohol per week, and no more than three units in any one day.

Remember, these are maximum recommended limits, not targets!

In general, the more you drink above the safe limits, the more harmful to your health alcohol is likely to be. And remember, binge drinking can be harmful even though the weekly total may not seem too high. Binge drinking is generally defined as consuming eight or more units in a single session for men and six or more for women.